Twenty-five days after their first practice, the Warriors on Saturday undertook some of their most serious work of the season trying to absorb Coach Don Nelson’s principles of playing and attacking zone defenses.

The fact that these lessons weren’t being taught until three days before the Warriors’ first regular-season game, Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, was not a sign of forgetful scheduling on the part of Nelson.

Rather, it’s an indication that the current Warriors squad is much more capable and comfortable with its ability to defend opponents straight up.

“We’re just helping each other more, we talk on defense more,” center Andris Biedrins said. “It just helps on defense so we don’t have to use a zone. We can try to defend man to man.”

The Warriors didn’t have that luxury last season, when a combination of injuries, lack of size and lack of talent at some positions forced them to rely on zones for more than half the time through November and December.

Friday night in their exhibition finale, the Warriors played no zone whatsoever.

By pairing Monta Ellis with Baron Davis in the backcourt, the Warriors have reduced the chance Ellis will get posted up by a bigger player, which was one of the reasons Golden State used so much zone last season.

In addition, the Warriors have added a couple of long-armed, quick defenders at power forward in rookies Brandan Wright and Stephane Lasme. Now instead of having to counter a tough post-up opponent with a zone, Nelson can throw Wright or Lasme on the floor and expect they can fight that individual battle to a draw.

“We’re going to play a lot of man-to-man, but I think we’re still going to use zone as well,” assistant coach Keith Smart said. “(A good zone) takes away the rhythm of the game, and the game turns into something else. That’s what our zone will do when we play it.”

• The Warriors had their longest practice of the season, meeting for almost 3 1/2 hours. The first hour was spent on film study, the next hour on walking through the zone particulars, and the final 80 minutes on drills and scrimmaging. And this was after Golden State held on for a 110-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in the exhibition finale Friday. “They deserved it,” Nelson said with a grin.

• Ellis and Marco Belinelli sat out practice after twisting ankles in Friday’s game. Wright was held out because of a sore back, and Kelenna Azubuike was absent because of flu symptoms. Forward Matt Barnes is expected to return today after a four-day excused absence for personal reasons.

• Today’s open practice begins at Oracle Arena at 5:30 p.m. and lasts for an hour. Admission and parking are free.